Work and service exposure guide
Updated Oct 6, 20269 sources
VA presumes some illnesses came from service near burn pits or at Camp Lejeune. See the lists, who can help with a VA claim, and how the Camp Lejeune lawsuit is separate.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Publisher of the VA burn pit and environmental hazards page
“If you have a presumptive condition, you don't need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption.”
VA: Burn pits and other specific environmental hazards (opens in a new tab) · Apr 9, 2025 · Checked Oct 6, 2026
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · 2025
Read the source: VA review of burn pit benefit rules (opens in a new tab) · Checked Oct 6, 2026
Not covered by this case
Usually, you must show that your service caused an illness. For some illnesses, VA presumes that your service caused it. You do not have to prove the cause, but you must meet the service rules for that presumption.
VA sets these lists by law or by rule. You also must not have a dishonorable discharge.
Being on a list does not by itself mean you qualify. VA decides each claim.
VA presumes burn pit or other toxic exposure for some service. The place and dates of service must match VA's list. Listed illnesses may then qualify for benefits.
On or after August 2, 1990, the places include Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and the United Arab Emirates. On or after September 11, 2001, they include Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
The airspace above these places counts. Service on or after August 2, 1990, in listed waters also counts. These include the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
VA's burn pit list includes brain cancer and glioblastoma. It also has melanoma and pancreatic cancer. Head, neck, gastrointestinal, reproductive and breathing-related cancers of any type are covered. So are lymphoma of any type, genitourinary cancer, and blood and lymph cancers.
It also has 12 other illnesses, most of them lung or breathing problems, such as asthma diagnosed after service, chronic bronchitis, COPD and emphysema.
VA updates these lists. Check VA's burn pit page for the current list before you file.
If your illness or place of service is not listed, you can still apply. You will need more evidence to show how your illness connects to your service.
VA may pay benefits for some illnesses after service at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River. You must meet VA's service rules. These cover your dates, time at the base and how you left the military. VA lists 8 illnesses that may qualify.
You must have served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River, North Carolina, for at least 30 days in all. The dates must fall between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. You must not have a dishonorable discharge.
This covers Veterans, Reservists and National Guard members.
VA's 8 Camp Lejeune illnesses include adult leukemia and bladder cancer. Kidney cancer, liver cancer and multiple myeloma are also on the list. So are non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Parkinson's disease. The list also has aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes.
When you file, VA says to state that you are applying for a Camp Lejeune presumptive condition.
A veteran's birth or adopted child, married spouse or other legal dependent may get help paying for care for 15 covered conditions. They must have lived there for at least 30 days in that period and be approved for the benefit. Time in the womb can count. VA's Camp Lejeune page has the full rules.
Only helpers approved by VA may help with a VA claim. VA calls them accredited. They are VSO reps, lawyers and claims agents. VSO means Veterans Service Organization; its help is free.
Only VA-accredited representatives may help you with a VA benefits claim. They are Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives, attorneys and claims agents. Help from an accredited VSO representative is always free.
Under 38 CFR 14.636, VA-approved lawyers and claims agents may not charge you for an initial disability claim. They may charge for later work after VA sends its first decision. VA must also have the signed fee agreement and the form that names them as your representative.
You can find an accredited representative with VA's search tool. You can also file a disability claim on VA.gov.
For a Camp Lejeune claim, VA asks for military records that show your service there. It also asks for medical records that show one of the 8 conditions. For a listed burn pit illness and place, you do not need to prove the cause.
A presumption is a legal rule for benefits. It does not show what caused any one person's illness.
Gather service records that show where and when you served. Gather medical records that name the diagnosis. For a Camp Lejeune family claim, keep records of when you were diagnosed and treated.
For a family claim, also keep proof of your ties to the veteran and the time you lived at the base. VA lists examples, such as birth records, housing records and military orders.
Read VA's Camp Lejeune page for the records needed for those claims. VA's claim guide explains how to file and send evidence.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is a separate law. It created a way for veterans, survivors and families to seek relief in court for harm they say came from the water. These claims start with the Department of the Navy, not with VA.
VA says filing under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act will not affect your eligibility for VA disability or health care benefits. A VA claim and a Camp Lejeune Justice Act claim are separate claims.
Our Camp Lejeune lawsuit page explains the court cases. That page is about the lawsuit, not VA benefits. A lawyer can look at your records and check the rules and dates for your case.
Checked against 9 primary sources by People's Justice editors · Updated
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